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A thought for the 2nd half of life: ‘Give a little, get a lot’

Billy Boswell, Op-Ed Contributor
Published 6:51 a.m. CT May 14, 2018

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Surveys and polls are showing that people are concerned that incivility is rising greatly. That has an effect on Americans' politics and ability to sustain democracy.
David Plazas / Tennessean (Wochit)

When I turned 50 a few years ago, I started thinking a little less about the first half of my life and a little more about the rest of it.

For most of your life you feel invincible. When I woke up one morning last year and discovered I had torn both my ACL and MCL in my left knee, while sleeping, I found out that this old athlete needed to drop some attitudes and figure out how to be a better dad, friend, brother and now new grandfather.

I’ve always been a good Christian but knew I needed to be more tolerant. Being from the South, this middle-aged professional redneck needed to better appreciate the talents of others.

God put us all on this planet for a reason. We might not all be rich or pretty, handsome or brilliant. But we all are unique, and all have something no one else has, and that’s special.

So my second-half goals in life now include doing more with my church; being more tolerant of my fellow man, regardless of their color, political beliefs or position in life; building people up rather than tearing them down; and trying to be a blessing to a stranger … every day.

It’s funny. When you pay someone a compliment (give a little), you get so much more in return. Be pleasant and compliment someone's hair, shoes, the sound of his or her voice. You’ll find that your service improves at a restaurant, the detail guys at the carwash do a better job on your car, the person on the phone takes care of your problem faster, and the person you avoid while walking into the store opens the door for you.

Give a little compliment, show some respect, and people respond in the best of ways.

It touches my heart when a black teenager holds a door open for an 85-year-old white woman, or when I see a white police officer playing basketball with a group of teenage black youths.

When I see Will Smith in a movie, Lionel Richie in a concert, or Leonard Fournette make a touchdown, I don’t see a black man. I see someone who has great talents who I enjoy watching. I hope I continue to mature in this way.

Pay a compliment to someone totally different from yourself and you’ll get so much more in return. Those you compliment may pass the same on to others. Who knows, we may have something.